LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California mother sued Nalge Nunc
International Corp, claiming the company knew, but downplayed
risks, that a toxic substance in its popular Nalgene plastic
sports bottles could leach into the bottles' contents and
sicken consumers.

The case, filed on Tuesday, is believed to be the first
consumer class action over the use of Bisphenol A, or BPA, in
plastic sports bottles since Canada moved to ban baby bottles
containing the substance and the U.S. government expressed
concern over its safety last week.

Nalge Nunc, a unit of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, said on
Friday it will phase out production of its Outdoor line of
polycarbonate containers that include BPA over the next several
months.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc also said on Friday it will pull baby
bottles and other products made with BPA from its Canada stores
immediately and phase the items out of its U.S. stores next
year.

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The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento,
accuses Nalge Nunc of continuing to assert that BPA is safe
long after dozens of studies linked the substance to hormone
disruptions, infertility, early puberty, and cancer.

The lawsuit was brought by Lani Felix-Lozano, who said she
bought the company's reusable beverage containers for herself
and her two daughters, now ages 11 and 13, for several years.

"They address the issue of BPA in their bottles (on their
Web site); they cite the (Food and Drug Administration) stating
that they see no problem with it. The problem is they didn't
cite the many other studies that show there is a risk and there
is a great concern about the issue," attorney Harold Hewell,
who represents Felix-Lozano, said.

The lawsuit does not describe any physical ailment suffered
by the plaintiffs and seeks unspecified damages.

A spokeswoman for Nalge Nunc could not be reached for
comment late on Wednesday.

Industry groups and some scientists defended BPA's safety,
saying there has been no clear corroboration between studies on
animals showing BPA to be harmful even at low levels, and risks
to human health. (Reporting by Gina Keating; editing by Carol
Bishopric)